Sri Lanka is witnessing a significant rise in both local and foreign tourists visiting its nature reserves in 2024. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Wildlife, Forest Resources Conservation, and Irrigation, announced at a recent press conference that tourist numbers have substantially increased compared to the past two years.

In 2022, the country saw 289,405 tourists visiting forest conservation sites. This number rose to 444,053 in 2023. As of mid-2024, 364,521 tourists have already visited these destinations, indicating a promising trend for the rest of the year. Notably, the proportion of foreign tourists has increased from 19.8% in 2022 to 40% so far in 2024.

To enhance the tourist experience, new facilities have been introduced. The government has established dedicated sanitary facilities for foreign passport holders at popular tourist spots. Additionally, an online ticket reservation system has been implemented for major national parks, including Yala, Udawalawe, Horton Plains, Kaudulla, Minneriya, and Wilpattu.

The influx of tourists has been significant, with about 1.1 million foreign visitors arriving in Sri Lanka by mid-July. If this trend continues, the country is set to record its highest number of foreign tourist arrivals in a single year by the end of 2024.

Wanniarachchi emphasized the country's efforts to improve the eco-tourism sector by implementing various measures and legal amendments. These initiatives aim to attract more tourists and boost the economy through foreign exchange.

Sri Lanka’s dedication to eco-tourism is evident in its recent developments. The 2,500-hectare Gal Oya National Park opened to the public in 2023, and new tourist facilities have been established in several other parks and forest reserves. The country has also received international recognition for its efforts in mangrove restoration, planting 326 hectares of mangroves over the past two years.

Furthermore, the Department of National Zoological Gardens, despite economic challenges, reported significant revenue growth, reaching Rs.728.60 million by mid-2024. The State Timber Corporation is also expected to record a net profit, with Rs.2,000 million in revenue so far this year.

Efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, particularly with elephants, have shown positive results. Measures such as maintaining electric fences and amending wildlife protection laws have helped reduce incidents and plan for a comprehensive elephant population survey.